welcome to "world news." tonight, a deadly explosion, ripping through a suburban neighborhood in the middle of the night. screams in the darkness, dozens of homes destroyed. and when the sun rose, a devastating portrait. tonight, what caused it? inside the e-mails. the stunning fall of america's spy master. the cia confirmation, behind him his wife and the other woman. martha raddatz standing by with the newest fallout. high price. american families losing their homes because of a missed utility bill? how far is too far for bill collectors? >> you're taking homes from people for small unpaid water bills. >> a "world news" investigation. and saluting our heroes tonight. the little boy in his own words, for his father in afghanistan. >> i'm so proud of him.

he is my hero right next to jesus. >> moments later, his hero arrives. and good evening. we do begin here with that terrifying and deadly explosion that shattered a suburban indianapolis neighborhood in the middle of the night. the blast could be felt for miles. firefighters rushing to the scene. you can see here, one of the homes on fire. and then soon afterward, several of them up in flames. witnesses say you could hear the screams, families huddled outside, some hugging their pets and then images today. the charred neighborhood. in a moment here, a tour of the scene, but first tonight, abc's john schriffen with the newest clues. authorities speaking just moments ago. >> reporter: this gaping hole is all that's left. charred foundations, burnt-out

roofs, surrounded by pieces of homes scattered everywhere. an explosion so intense at least two people are now dead and at least eight others injured. >> garage doors blown in, houses completely leveled, nothing left. >> reporter: late last night this suburban commune till outside of indianapolis was rocked from their beds when a blast obliterated two homes and ignited several others. nearly 200 people were forced to quickly flee into the streets, many wearing pajamas, clutching their pets. a scene so desperate, neighbors rushed in to help. >> when i got to the house, i heard people screaming, the only thing i could think of is, these people have to get out or they're not going to make it. i just ran in, without even thinking, me an andrew here and just pulled them out. >> reporter: investigators are combing through the rubble, looking for clues. >> so far, survey is indicated there are no gas leaks in the area. however, we've got a lot more invest game to do.

>> and john is with us now. a question a lot of people are going to be asking, did anyone smell gals beforehand? >> reporter: no, and that's what's so puzzling. no reports of any smells of gas in the days leading up to the blast. now, to give you an idea just how powerful it was, this is only a flew block radius of the blast, but it could be felt three miles away. >> john, thank you. our abc team on the scene all day today. drew smith, among the first to get inside that neighborhood and he reported in just a short time ago here. >> reporter: david, there's just massive destruction here inside this richmond hills subdivision on the southeast side of indianapolis. you can see there are bulldozers out here. people are trying to get everything cleaned up. what used to be five homes less than 24 hours ago are nothing more than rubble. at least 80 homes affected by the blast that went off shortly after 11:00 eastern time last night. windows blown out. and you can see the cleanup here is going to take quite some time. authorities are working with

federal authorities here in indianapolis to try to figure out exactly what happened and what caused the massive devastation. david? >> our thanks to drew smith and wrtv, the picture from indianapolis tonight. but we do move on now and fast-moving developments after the stunning resigning of david petraeus. petraeus' cia confirmation hearings, his wife holly, and a few seats away to the right, the other woman at the center of all of this, paula broadwell. abc's martha raddatz with more on a third woman who alerted authorities, the red flag that set this into motion. >> reporter: dave petraeus' secret affair may never have been discovered if not for the threatening e-mails his lover sent to jill kelly, wife of a tampa surgeon, a long supporter of the military. officials say she was not romantically involved with petraeus, but was a family friend of petraeus and his wife. officials say the anonymous

e-mails to kelly were so disturbing and obsessive, she called the authorities. they traced them to paula broadwell's computer. where, eventually, evidence of an affair between the cia director and broadwell was discovered. petraeus' is claiming the affair with broadwell did not begin until after he retired from the military in august 2011. it was a week later he became cia director. friends say the affair ended four months ago, about the time jill kelly received the e-mails. friends say it was petraeus who ended the relationship. broadwell had extraordinary access to petraeus, but when she was chosen as his biographer, she had never even written a book. >> she struck me as a very ambition young woman and i think, you know, she appealed to general petraeus because of that combination of sort of intellectual prowess and the

fact that she's very physically capable. >> reporter: those around them found her embarrassing and far too gushy about petraeus, evident in her interview on jon stewart. >> yes, he's a very high energy person and i think he does gain energy from feeling like he's consequence y'all and making a difference. >> reporter: despite that, friends of petraeus told me that they were certain that dave and holly would stay together, though, david, there are still many questions. >> all right, martha raddatz, thank you. now, to the timeline, when this fbi investigation began, and new questions tonight about why the white house and congress did not hear of it until much later. here's abc's senior justice correspondent pierre thomas tonight. >> reporter: sources tell abc news jill kelly considered those e-mails a threat not only to herself, but petraeus. after the fbi was contacted, and an investigation uncovered a sordid affair between petraeus and broadwell, there were early concerns that the cia director's security government e-mails

could have been hacked. but the probe never turned up evidence of national security being compromised. what it did find was lots of human drama. key members of congress want to know why didn't they weren't told. >> we with received no advance notice. it was like a lightning bolt. consider top intelligence officials were not told until election day. the president was told the dale after. >> the president should have been told about it at the earliest date. >> reporter: >> the official complaint was harassment. it could have gone to e-mail hacking. but there was no substantive information that this had anything to do with national security. >> reporter: administration officials say this timing had nothing to do with politics, but congress is vowing to investigate. david? >> pierre thomas, thank you. and the other major headline from washington, the so-called fiscal cliff, now quickly approaching. and only this sunday, new signals republicans might be willing to work with the

president to a point. here's abc's david kerley tonight. >> reporter: across the dial today, the parties sounded like >> ihink there's a basis for the deal. >> i absolutely believe there is. >> reporter: it's the same tone we heard from the major players. >> i'm open to compromise. >> just time to get the job done. >> reporter: speaker boehner told his republican members they would have to avoid nasty fights and according to "the new york times," they seemed to listen. but those words don't change a bassic disagreement that could push the country off the fiscal cliff the 1st of january. that's when a number of tax cuts expire, meaning the average family will pay an extra $3,700 a year. and severe cuts to defense and government spending. the sticking point on avoiding that cliff? taxes. the president campaigned on and won on letting tax cuts for the rich expire. today, a leading republican said no. >> no republican will vote for higher tax rates. >> reporter: if that sounds a lot like the argue we already heard, you're right.

and democrats appear embolden that rates for the rich rise. >> if the republicans will not agree with that, we will reach a point at the end of this year where all the tax cuts expire and we'll start over next year. >> reporter: the two sides have four more days to lay out their markers. on friday, congressional leaders come to the white house to start negotiations in earnest. david? >> david kerley at the white house tonight, thank you. and with so much swirling in washington, the election might already seem like a lifetime ago. but tonight, a new message from mitt romney to his supporters. as sources offer us a rare and telling portrait of the most painful week of romney's political career. by week's end, mitt romney and his wife ann driving themselves to headquarters. gone with the secret service detail. instead of the long lines of supporters, now a line of dozens of staffers outside of romney's office door. some waiting to shake his hand, others looking for a quiet

moment with the governor. the former presidential candidate eating pizza out of the box in his office. mrs. romney in jeans and a sweater. just hours aer the loss last week, romney calling a staff meeting. emotions raw, romney and his wife arriving the deafening applause and chants of "mitt, mitt." romney was clearly moved. mrs. romney crying. sources telling me campaign manager matt rhoades saying, "we would rather lose with you than win with anyone else." in the days after defeat, a source close to mrs. romney said she described the moment she walked on that stage as surreal. saying mrs. romney wondered to herself, are we really conceding? it was mrs. romney that remains most optimistic as returns starting pouring in, playing with her grandchildren election night. in the hours after the concession speech, mitt romney offering praise for his body man, garrett jackson. jackson often capturing and tweeting images of the governor during private moments. among them, a smiling romney

backstage watching his wife address millions of americans from the republican national convention. and this weekend, romney sending a note to supporters, "this was more than just a campaign. this was a national movement," he wrote. he did not reference his loss to the president, writing, "we still believe that better days are ahead." and in talking to my sourmss over the weekend, many of those closest to romney don't know what we'll he'll do next. many expect romney's focus to include board work and his work with the mormon church. we're going to turn now to a huge cold front marching across the nation tonight, dropping heavy snow in salt lake city. up to 48 inches in the utah mountains. and in kansas, some 50 reports this sunday of severe weather in the plains. these tomorrows in kansas, all apart of it. abc meteorologist ginger zee tracking it all. >> reporter: indianapolis had a record high yesterday of 69, today, in the upper 20s. that's what we're looking at. that's why we have severe

weather potential. this is the area what has to be rn canned. >> and holiday tomorrow, but for anyone heading out? >> reporter: big changes coming. that's what that cold front does. it's going to continue. look at the temperatures. 65 for new york city, beautiful day. washington, d.c., 66. but chicago, 70 today, tomorrow, only 39. >> tale of two countries tonight. ginger, thank you. as i mentioned, it is veteran's day, tomorrow will be the national observance. at arlington national cemetery, president obama and the first lady took part in the time honored tradition, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown. tonight here, so many tributes catching our eye. here are two of them. army veteran ehredt has been running a marathon every day now for the past ten weeks a journey that began in minnesota. >> morning, fourth day. on minnesota 53.

>> reporter: and came to an end today in galveston, texas, passing through nine states. >> there's this lonely feeling coming over me. but it also made me get up and move. >> reporter: at every mile, mike stops, not to take a break or to catch his breath, but to plant a small american flag, each enscribed with the name of a soldier lost in afghanistan. on this veteran's day, this little boy in north carolina. preparing to read his own handwritten worlds for his father. remembering his dad james, a father of four and a first class petty officer receivering in afghanistan. listen to how his son describes him. >> i'm so proud of him. he is my hero right next to jesus. >> reporter: moments later, the principal says look. that little boily's hero, walki towards him. his father james, a former football star in their hometown, who said later he would not

forget this hero's welcome from the town, nor his son. >> i mean, it's the greatest honor of my life to serve my country. >> that little boy holding onto his dad for good 30 seconds. our affiliate, wlls capturing one incredible moment over this veterans day weekend. still much more ahead on "world news" on a sunday night. one man's fight to save his home. he could lose it, all over an unpaid utility bill? and apparently, he is not alone. "world news" getting answers tonight. or more days a week, why use temporary treatments when you can prevent the acid that's causing it with prevacid24hr. with one pill prevacid24hr works at the source to prevent the acid that causes frequent heartburn all day and all night. and with new prevacid24hr perks, you can earn rewards from dinner deals to music downloads for purchasing prevacid24hr. prevent acid all day and all night for 24 hours with prevacid24hr.

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an out of work actor in baltimore is dealing with real life drama tonight that could leave him homeless. it started with an unpaid water bill and it turns out, this is happening all over the country. abc's mark greenblatt investigates. >> reporter: on hbo's "the wire," richard burton played tough-as-nails gangster "shamrock" mcginty. >> slim said they got the eye on marlo. >> reporter: but burton lost his job when "the wire" went off the air. and today, the accomplished actor and musician is in the mitdle of a real life drama, at risk of losing his home to foreclosure, all over a disputed $1,000 water bill. >> the smaller bill is there but after you add the interest, the 18%, and the lawyer fees, it's unjust. it's wrong. >> reporter: burton refused to pay. but the city of baltimore turned to a controversial tactic to collect. receiving burton's debt to a private company, which then put a lien on his home. >> then you have no choice to

pay or lose your home. that can't be right. >> reporter: now, the company is asking for additional interest and high legal fees, too. ballooning burton's tab to almost $5,000. >> could actually lose their home for the failure to pay a $200 water bill. >> reporter: the national consumer law center says thousands of homeowners all over the u.s. are threatened with foreclosure every year because of unpaid utility bills and taxes. in rhode island, a $474 sewer bill cost one woman her home. the company that took possession later sold it for $85,000. back in baltimore, vicky valentine lost her house over a partially paid water bill. you'd been in this home for 33 years? >> yes. >> reporter: and now all of a sudden, you're out on the street. >> yes, and that's not a fun place to be. >> reporter: lien logic makes $100 million a year, profiting from its lien business. we tracked down one of the

company's co-founders. you're taking homes from people for small unpaid water bills. >> like i said, i decline the interview. >> reporter: and in the end -- >> thanks for your time. >> reporter: you have nothing to say to the people that lose their homes to you? many cities like houston will just shut your water off if you don't pay but they would never give anyone the right to take your home. but david, it is different everywhere. if you have questions, you need to call your utility. >> we all know we have to pail our bills but there's debate over how far is too far. mark, thank you. when we come back here tonight, a sneak peek about what will be different at the famous macy's thanksgiving day parade this year. stay tuned. axiron, the only underarm treatment for low t, can restore testosterone levels back to normal in most men. axiron is not for use in women or anyone younger than 18. axiron can transfer to others through direct contact. women, especially those who are or who may become pregnant, and children should avoid contact where axiron is applied as unexpected signs of puberty in children or changes

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thousand to our "instant index" on a sunday night. people and pictures that got our attention this weekend. beginning with our image tonight. unbelievable reminder that thanksgiving is just around the corner now. a sneak peek long before the parade. papa smurf and the elf on the shelf balloons flying high over new jersey. three of the new balloons making their debut in next week's ma raid. and our person tonight, judy jar land and the blue and white dress she won in "the wizard of oz." the dress sold for $480,000. the highest receiving item at the auction. tonight, our number here, 007. and a whopping first weekend, $88 million in ticket sales. ♪ the new james bond mum veem "skyfall" set a franchise record this eck woo end. tell us what caught your eye. abcnews.com/worldnews or tweet me @davidmuir.

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and finally tonight here, with two oscars under his belt. daniel day lewis is one actor who doesn't need to prove himself. still, he took on another acting challenge of a lifetime, playing about american icon. so, how does he prepare for these roles, how does he communicate with his fellow actors? here's abc's david wright. >> slavery, sir? it's done. >> reporter: he's a british actor embodying an american icon. >> i like our chances now. >> reporter: according to the experts, daniel day lewis nailed it. >> blood's been spilled to afford us this moment. now, now, now. >> i've seen a lot of performances, and i've never seen anyone delve as deeply into lincoln's soul.

>> reporter: daniel dale lewis famously immermss himself in his roles. why filming "my left foot," where he plays a character with cerebral palsy, he remained in a wheelchair between takes. while playing hawkeye in "last of the mow here cans," he reportedly lived in the wilderness. >> stay alive, no matter what occurs. >> reporter:s the actor recently told "time" magazine, he got just as deeply into the 16th president. >> i had a feeling for him like i've never been able to feel for a man that i never met. >> reporter: on set, steven spielberg addressed him as mr. president. day lewis did send text messages to other cast members, but signed them "a" for abe lincoln. >> i try not to dismember a character, a life, into its component parts and work on one area and then another. >> reporter: spielberg purposely waited until after the election to release this movie. recognizing that lincoln is

still politically relevant. ♪ lincoln ♪ lincoln >> reporter: from lincoln ck on "snl" to this punch line. >> good news for mitt romney. he's won tonight, we can announce this tonight, most of the confederacy. >> reporter: our house is divided, still. >> red is blue is still better than blue and gray. >> shall we stop this leading? >> reporter: david wright, abc news, los angeles. >> "lincoln," distributed bid our parent company, disney, opening next weekend. that is the broadcast. "good morning america," first thing in the morning. diane here tomorrow night. as we say good night, we go back to the little boy and that moment that struck us all today. his father is now home. on this veterans day, we an absolute all of our heroes. from all of us at abc, good night.